Apparatus for sterilizing liquids.



No. 642,948. Patented Feb. 6, I900.

L. BACHRICH. APPARATUS FOR STERILIZING LIQUIDS.

(Application filed. Nov. 7, 1899.)

(No Model.)

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NEE STATES FFICE.

ATENT APPARATUS FOR STERiLIZING LIQUIDS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 642,948, dated February 6, 1900.

Application filed November '7, 1899. Serial No. 736,138. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LLUDWIG BAOHRICH, mechanical engineer, of Vienna, Austria-Hungary, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Sterilizing Liquids, of which the followingis a specifica,

tion.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for sterilizing liquidssuch as wine, beer, milk, and the like-in a more perfeet and economic mannerthan used until now, this result being attained by a new and useful combination of one part of apparatus containing the liquid to be sterilized with a second similarly-constructed part of apparatus, the object of which is to receive and to preserve under pressure and in an unaltered condition that quantity of the liquid under treatment which by the expanding action of heat is forced out of the main part of apparatus first mentioned.

The object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus whereby the sterilization of liquids is effected in accordance with the requirements by the cooperation of two cylinders of diiferent size, the larger one of which is completely filled with the liquid to be sterilized, while the smaller one contains compressed sterilized air or carbonic-acid gas or the like. Despite the pressure of dilatation produced at the beginning of the operation both cylinders are allowed to rotate while heatis beingapplied. Afterexceedingamaximum of pressure-say, for instance, of ten atmospheres-conimunication between the two cylinders is established by means of a valve, and the smaller cylinder receives that Volume of liquid which is forced out by dilatation of the liquid in the largercylinder. This combination of two cylinders presents the advantage of allowing simultaneous application of heat and high pressure, quick heating and cooling, and rotation for the purpose of uniformly agitating the liquid and equalizing its temperature throughout the whole volume; moreover, avoiding all loss of liquid, as that portion which is separated by dilatation is preserved for the next operation-that is to say, it will be returned into the large cylinder before the next operation is commenced. By completely filling the large cylinder the expansion of the liquid in the same produces from the very commencement of heating so high a pressure that no vapors can be formed at all, and therefore no escape of the gases contained in the liquid can take place. Consequently all gases remain dissolved in the liquid. After the heat and high pressure have been allowed to act simultanewould doubtless take place if iron, copper,

zinc, lead, or the like were used.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the construction of my improved apparatus.

Figure 1 is a side view, partly in section;

and Fig. 2 an end view. Fig. 3 is an enlarged section on line 3 3 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 is a section on line 4 4.

The apparatus consists, essentially, of two double-walled cylinders a b, capable of rotating about their longitudinal axes and placed lengthwise one above the other, both of which contain a system of heating-pipes and are connected with one another bya non-rotating conduit e, in which a valve r, normally held closed by pressure in cylinder 1) and pipe e, is inserted. The upper cylinder a is supported by rollers f and has a toothed rim g engaging the gear h, by means of which rotary movement is transmitted to the said cylinder from the pulley i. The toothed rim 9 is in gear with a toothed rim 7a of the smaller cylinder 1), supported by a frame of any suitable construction, thereby also rotating this cylinder.

The liquid to be sterilized is introduced into the cylinder Ct at a tap Z and withdrawn therefrom through the same tap after sterilization has been efiected, while the smaller cylinder 1) is filled with carbonic-acid gas or compressed sterilized air. I

Heating liquid or steam is admitted by the pipe m into the space on one side of the longitudinal partition 4 between the two walls of cylinder (0 and passes through pipe 01 into the chamber 0 and on into the tubes 0 to chamber 0' on the opposite side of the partition 5, thence through the pipe 1] into the space between the two walls of the cylinder on the other side of partition 4, and leaves the apparatus by the pipe g. In a similar manner the heating liquid or steam is conducted through pipes d and between the two walls of the smaller cylinder b, as indicated by pipes m g, which correspond in their connection and use to pipes m g. Sterilization now proceeds in the aforedescribed manner. Any escape of gases which might take place at the end of the operation from the cooled liquid into the vacuum naturally formed above the latter in consequence of the cooling will be prevented by allowing compressed air or carbonic-acid gas to enter and fill the said vacuum as it is formed.

The herein-described apparatus provides for the absence of air from the larger cylindert'. 6., the sterilizing-cylinderand this absence of air is insured by completely filling the larger cylinder with the liquid to be sterilized and also by pumping out the air contained in the liquid in the case of, for instance, milk.

By completely filling the larger cylinder of my apparatus the pressure of dilatation may safely and without any danger for either the liquid contents or the apparatus be allowed to increase to the desired maximum, there being also no necessity for any extraordinarily strong construction to guard against fluctua tions of pressure which may possibly occur. In addition myimproved apparatus presents the advantages of momentary heating up and cooling down, thorough mixture by rotation, prevention of all loss of gas, and employment of silver-plated surfaces.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, :is

1. The combination, in apparatus for sterilizing, of the double-walled cylinder a, means for rotating it, an inlet m for a heating medium to the space between the walls of said cylinder at one end, an outlet (1 from said space, pipes 0 within the inner cylinder, pipe n between said space and one end of each of pipes c, pipe 19 between the other ends of said pipes c and said space, another cylinder, 1), means for rotating cylinder b, a pipe 8 connecting the central part of cylinder at to cylinder b,and a pressure-valve v in pipe e adapted to open outward when pressure exceeds a predetermined limit in cylinder at.

2. The combination, in apparatus for sterilizing, of cylinder at having an annular space for a heating medium, an inlet m, and outlet q for such medium, said cylinderhaving also space for material to be sterilized, a second cylinder 5, a pipe e, communicating with cylinders a, I), through their axes so that the cylinders can rotate, means for rotating the cylinders, and a valve '0 in pipe e.

3. The combination, in apparatus forsterilizing, of cylinder at having an annular space for a heating medium, an inlet on and outlet q for such medium said cylinder having also space for material to be sterilized, several pipes 0 also for heating medium and extending from one end to the other and back again of the space for the material to be sterilized, a second cylinder 7), a pipe or passage 6 communicating with cylinders a, I) through their axes, means for rotating the cylinders, and a valve U in pipe 6.

4. The combination of the double-walled cylinder a, means for rotating it, an inlet m for a heating medium to the space between the walls of said cylinder at one end, an outlet g from said space, pipes 0 within the inner cylinder, pipe n between said space and one end of each of pipes c, pipep between the other end of pipes c and said space, another cylinder 1), means for rotating cylinder 1), a pipe 6 connecting thecentral part of cylinder at to cylinder 1), a pressure-valve o in pipe 6 adapted to open outward when pressure exceeds a predetermined limit in cylinder a, cylinder 1) serving also to hold compressed air or gas, the cylinders and other parts in contact with material being sterilized having a protected metal plating.

5. The combination of the double-walled cylinder a, means for rotating it, an inlet m for heating fluid, an outlet q, a partition dividing the space between the double walls of cylinder a between said inlet and outlet, pipes 0 within cylinder a, chambers 0, o, pipes at and p connecting with opposite ends of pipes c and with chambers 0, 0, cylinder b, a connection therefrom to the interior of cylinder a, a pressure-valve in said connection adapted to open outward when pressure exceeds a predetermined limit in cylinder a, and means for rotating cylinder 6.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name, this 24th day of October, 1899, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LUDWIG BAOIIRICI-I.

Witnesses:

JOHN LUX, ALVESTO S. IIOG-UE. 

